Talent Identification and Development in Youth Soccer: A Guide for Researchers and Practitioners

Talent development pathways in youth soccer offer opportunities for young players to realize their potential, but the decreasing age of recruitment, biases in selection, inconsistencies in language, underrepresented populations, and large dropout rates have magnified the potential flaws of existing organizational structures and settings. Talent Identification and Development in Youth Soccer provides an all-encompassing guide for researchers and practitioners by gathering the existing literature to help better understand the current context of this discipline.

Format: Hardback
Length: 356 pages
Publication date: 11 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Talent development pathways in youth soccer offer invaluable opportunities for young players to unlock their full potential. These programs have gained widespread popularity across governing bodies, professional clubs, and independent organizations, coinciding with a surge in sport science literature dedicated to optimizing player development toward expertise.
However, the decreasing age of recruitment, biases in selection, inconsistencies in language usage, underrepresented populations, and significant dropout rates from these pathways have highlighted the inherent flaws in existing organizational structures and settings. Moreover, despite the professionalization of talent development pathways and increasing research attention, our understanding of the characteristics that facilitate accurate recruitment strategies and long-term development outcomes remains limited.
To address these gaps, Talent Identification and Development in Youth Soccer provides a comprehensive and authoritative guide for researchers and practitioners alike. This book brings together a team of esteemed international experts who delve into various aspects of talent identification and development in youth soccer. Chapters cover a wide range of topics, including technical skills, tactical understanding, physical fitness, psychological resilience, social interactions, activities, and trajectories, career transitions, relative age effects, creativity, and genetics. Each chapter offers valuable insights and considerations for both researchers and practitioners, contributing to a deeper understanding of this discipline.
With a dual focus on theory and practice, this book serves as a vital resource for students, researchers, coaches, and practitioners interested in talent identification, talent development, youth soccer, soccer coaching, or expertise and skill acquisition. By consolidating the existing literature, it offers a comprehensive framework for understanding the complexities and nuances of this field, empowering individuals to make informed decisions and contribute to the growth and success of young soccer players.

Weight: 880g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032232775